Hello.

In a previous post, I discussed using the .NET Framework on the Xbox 360. It turns out you can create Media Center applications, install them on your media server, and then control them via the Xbox 360 UI. The processing happens on the Media Center PC. More details are available in an MSDN article. Read More

The OPML output functionality in my AJAXTagger is now fixed! There was a bug caused by Internet Explorer's lack of support for the __proto__ construct, affecting how the script determined an object's type. This fix resolves the issue, ensuring compatibility with IE6 and IE7. Read More

I was excited about the eBay API becoming free, hoping to build programs around it. However, I'm struggling to find a compelling project idea. Integrating it into my blog isn't feasible due to eBay's dynamic nature, and static integration wouldn't benefit my SEO. A potential idea is an AJAX interface for the Amazon books I feature, but my lack of commission potential is demotivating. My programs usually serve my needs first, like my AJAX Tagger, which helps me provide more info to readers. If I come up with any good eBay API ideas, I'll share them here. Read More

This post addresses the numerous Google searches related to ".NET framework" and "Xbox 360." Despite the search traffic, I currently have no information on this topic. It seems unlikely that .NET Framework would be available on the Xbox 360 due to the console's different chip architecture and the recent introduction of x86 64-bit support in .NET 2.0. However, I remain open to the possibility. Read More

This post addresses the search query "c# instanceof" by clarifying that C# uses "is" and "as" keywords instead of "instanceof" for type checking and casting. The "is" keyword checks an object's type, while "as" performs a safe cast, returning null if the cast fails, unlike an explicit cast which throws an exception. Read More

Inspired by my recent success binding XAML directly to Amazon's web service, I'm exploring the possibility of extending this approach to other RESTful services. Imagine building applications, like my AJAX Tagger, entirely in XAML, without any C# code. This hinges on WPF's capabilities. Do you think it's feasible? Read More

I explored XAML databinding with Amazon's REST API, inspired by a Channel 9 RSS reader example. The XAML code fetches data from Amazon and displays it. A key challenge was handling Amazon's default namespace, requiring a NamespaceManager for correct XPath queries. The provided example demonstrates the basic functionality, and it can be expanded upon. Read More

I've had people come to my blog searching for how to do threading in JavaScript. Unfortunately, I haven't found a way to do true threading in JavaScript. The closest solution I've found involves creating queues that hold work items. Every 250ms (or a developer-defined interval), the queue checks if work needs to be done and starts a task if none is already running. This approach mimics threading. Check out my AJAX Tagger 2.0 for a working example. If you have any insights on true threading in JavaScript, I'd love to hear them! Read More

This post answers the question of how to determine if a given file path in C# is a directory. It explains how to use the File.GetAttributes() method and the FileAttributes.Directory property to check for the directory attribute. The post provides a boolean expression ((File.GetAttributes(path) & FileAttributes.Directory) == FileAttributes.Directory) to effectively perform this check. Read More

I'm consistently impressed by Yahoo's web service team and their responsiveness to users. In contrast, Amazon's web service support is practically non-existent. My simple question about UK support for the TextStream parameter in AWS has gone unanswered for ages, and I know I'm not alone. Amazon, please step up your game! Read More

This post addresses the Google search query "c# define". It explains that, unlike C, where #define creates macros for pre-processor code expansion, C# uses #define for conditional compilation based on symbols passed during compilation. The author briefly notes uncertainty about potential changes in C# 3.0, while suggesting no changes are present in C# 2.0. Read More

Just a quick update: the related images feature in AJAX Tagger 2 isn't fully functional yet. I'll be working on fixing it tonight. Read More

I'm testing my image code for related images functionality. In the meantime, check out XBox 360 reviews on Gamespot and IGN. Read More

eBay has introduced a free API access program called the Unified Pricing Scheme. This is a significant change that opens up opportunities for developers, like myself, who were previously hesitant to use the API due to usage fees. This new scheme enables thousands of developers to experiment with the eBay API without cost. Read More

Many visitors are trying to access the AJAX Tagger via the non-functional AJAXTag23 test page. I need to update the link, directing them to the correct URL: http://www.kinlan.co.uk/AjaxExperiments/AjaxTag2 (AJAXTag2). Read More

I've updated my AJAX Tagger to Version 2! This release adds a simple but useful feature: you can now manually add your own tags in the tag list panel. This is really helpful when the Yahoo Developer Term Extraction API isn't sufficient for tagging, like when you need specific tags such as "C#" and ".Net". Read More

I'd really like a feature in Blogger that lets me customize what's shown on the main blog page versus the individual post page. Something like custom tags, maybe <itempage></itempage>, that would let me control the content displayed in each view. Read More

I've been working on AJAX Tagger version 2 and it's ready for everyday use! It leverages APIs from Yahoo, Amazon, Flickr, and Technorati, along with Wikipedia and even your own site's content to find related articles. It's all AJAX-based, uses a unique request queue, and outputs in both OPML and HTML. Plus, it even suggests related Amazon products. Currently, it's IE-only, so check it out at www.kinlan.co.uk/AjaxExperiments/AjaxTag2 and let me know your thoughts! The UI/UX needs some polish, but that's next on my list. Read More

This post discusses a reader's search query related to C# and Google Desktop. While I haven't personally worked with Google Desktop plugins, I found a relevant article in the November 2005 issue of Dr. Dobb's Journal. The article, "Improving Search Precision Using Google Desktop Search 1.0," details how to use C# to search the Citeseer database with Google Desktop, including updates for version 2.0. The article is available on www.ddj.com, but may require a subscription. Read More

I missed a key feature of C# 2.0, despite all the content I read. The coolest part is the ability to have different access levels for property getters and setters. This opens possibilities like public getters but protected setters. Abhinaba's blog has more details. Read More